"It never occurred to any of us, either in Düsseldorf or London, to think him what is called _clever_; he never said anything very witty or profound. But he was always funny in a good-natured, jovial manner, and made me laugh more than any one else. "As for satire, good heavens! that seemed not in him. He was always well dressed, always in high spirits and a good temper, and very demonstrative and caressing; putting his arm round one, and slapping one on the back or lifting one up in the air; a kind of jolty, noisy, boisterous boon-companion--rather uproarious, in fact, and with no disdain for a good bottle of wine or a good bottle of beer. His artistic tastes were very catholic, for he was prostrate in admiration before Millais, Burne-Jones, Fred Walker, and Charles Keene, with the latter of whom he used to sing old English duets. Oddly enough, Charles Keene had for Josselin's little amateur pencillings the most enthusiastic admiration--probably because they were the very antipodes of his own splendid work. I believe he managed to get some little initial letters of Josselin's into _Punch_ and _Once a Week_; but they weren't signed, and made no mark, and I've forgotten them. "Josselin didn't really get his foot in the stirrup till a year or two after his marriage. [Illustration: "BETWEEN TWO WELL-KNOWN EARLS"] "And that was by his illustrations to his own _Sardonyx_, which are almost worthy of the letter-press, I think; though still somewhat lacking in freedom and looseness, and especially in the sense of tone. The feeling for beauty and character in them (especially that of women and children) is so utterly beyond anything else of the kind that has ever been attempted, that technical considerations no longer count. I think you will find all of us, in or outside the Academy, agreed upon this point. "I saw very little of him after he bought Marsfield; but I sometimes meet his sons and daughters, _de par le monde_. "And what a pleasure that is to an artist of my particular bent you can readily understand. I would go a good way to see or talk to any daughter of Josselin's; and to hear Mrs. Trevor sing, what miles! I'm told the grandchildren are splendid--chips of the old block too. "And now, my dear Maurice, I will do my best; you may count upon that, for old-times' sake, and for Josselin's, and for that of '_La belle dame sans merci_,' whom I used to admire so enthusiastically. It grieves me deeply to think of them both gone--and all so sudden! "Sincerely yours, "George du Maurier. "P. S.--Very many thanks for the Château Yquem and the Steinberger Cabinet; _je tâcherai de ne pas en abuser trop!_